Jeff’s Journal
By Jeff Whitaker
I couldn’t believe all of the treasures we were uncovering. Every box we opened revealed something we hadn’t seen in decades or some cases ever. When our Mom passed away last year at the age of 92 it became the task of my sister and me to pack up the house she had lived in for over 50 years. If you’ve been there before, you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, someday you are in for a “treat”. I say a treat kind of tongue in cheek. There were large parts of our project that were anything but a treat. But then there were the treasures we could come across.
My Mom was of the generation that sent cards for every occasion and I mean every occasion. Not only that, she saved just about every card going back to her wedding day and even cards from when she was in high school. Cards, notes, receipts; you name it. There were high school yearbooks and even elementary school report cards. Everything was packed away in cardboard boxes stacked in the back of her attic. There were pictures by the hundreds. Of course, this was back before the digital age. So, every picture was printed out and either in envelopes, scrapbooks, or just stacked in old shoeboxes. This was where the struggle began. There was so much to go through, so many decisions of what to keep and what to get rid of. But as we opened each box, we literally could have spent hours reading the notes, going through the pictures, sorting, sorting, sorting. At times, it was overwhelming.
Although a lot of the things we came across were interesting, much of what we found we couldn’t identify. Letters from people we didn’t know or very old pictures from the early 1900s that had no name on the back and unfortunately no other way of identifying. I remarked to my sister on more than one occasion, I wish Mom were here to tell us more about what we are finding. I’d find a picture or a letter and wonder to myself what the backstory was or the context.
My point in telling you this story is twofold. If you have boxes stored away with treasured memories, take the time to open them up. The truth is, they do no good to anyone tucked away somewhere. And likewise, if you have elderly parents or someone you know who has these hidden treasures and can’t get to them, offer to dig through the attic, basement, or closet and bring them out. Don’t wait until it’s too late to relive these memories and revisit the past.
Jeff Whitaker is a veteran broadcaster here in South Jersey.. He now draws on his experience and training to work with companies and individuals to develop effective storytelling, communications and leadership skills. Find free resources and ways Jeff can work with you at jeffwhitaker.com
